About me

Deciding to see a counsellor and making that first contact can be a huge step. It is okay to feel nervous about it. Maybe this is the first time and you don't know what to expect or how things work. Stepping into an unknown situation can be really uncomfortable. I will do everything I can to address your worries and concerns, I will explain what you can expect from me and how the process works.

During the counselling session, I aim to provide a safe place where you can share your thoughts, feelings and concerns in as much detail as you wish. You will neither be judged nor have ideas or opinions imposed upon you.

Depending on the issues bothering you, you may benefit from a few sessions to help you deal with a current problem, or an in-depth personal journey to help you resolve past experiences. The number of sessions is not prescribed but something we can agree together as we go along. I will do my best to work within a schedule that you can manage.

I am an Accredited member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and I practice under the association's Ethical Framework for Good Practice. I am an experienced psychodynamic counsellor offering professional and confidential one to one counselling to adults, young people and families on both a long and short term basis.

Parents, children and family members can lose connection with each other, sometimes through significant events or family breakdown. When this occurs it can leave a trail of pain and misery for all concerned. Without communication and dialogue this can be difficult to resolve. A counselling session can give the opportunity to reconnect and to start new dialogue, dissolving misunderstandings and resentment. The structure, boundaries and confidentiality of the counselling session encourages the difficult things to be said and resolved, enabling the relationship to repair.

Training, qualifications & experience

My training includes the following:

Post Graduate Certificate in Counselling from University of Oxford 2003

Post Graduate Diploma with commendation in Psychodynamic and Person Centred Counselling from the University of Hertfordshire 2006.

Post qualifying Certificate with distinction, in Family Therapy 2011.

Certificate in Supervision from Institute for Individual Psychology 2013.

My background includes over 15 years experience in the health care field as well as working within the Connexions Service from 2003 to 2011.

I am Head of Counselling at the Letchworth Centre for Healthy Living and lead the Practice and Ethics Committee

I am a qualified supervisor of counsellors and other helping professionals such as teachers and youth workers.

I am committed to continuing professional development through recognised conferences, seminars and workshops.

I hold current DBS (CRB) clearance.

I am listed on the BACP Directory of Counsellors and the UK Register of Counsellors/Psychotherapists.

Maps & Directions

Type of session

Practical details

Availability

My main clinic days are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays including Tuesday and Wednesday evenings

Types of client

Young people

Adults

Families

Employee Assistance Programme

Supervision & training

I offer integrative supervision on a one to one basis for both qualified counsellors and trainees on placement. My supervision training is based on the Psychodynamic approach and the Seven Eyed Model. The Seven Eyed Model of supervision was developed by Peter Hawkins and Robin Shohet and takes into account the many aspects of client work: the client and their context, the counsellor also in context, the relationship between them, the supervisory relationship as well as the wider context socially, culturally and the systems within which we work. It allows not only for self reflection by the counsellor but also by the supervisor in regards to the supervisee and their client. .